There she goes. The Lone “Reacher.” Riding off into the sunset after a long, but eventful day of sharing the Gospel. She is a seasoned evangelist who can take down almost any argument against God. There are few who are like her. Maybe that is a good thing.
While some people enjoy the solitude of a personal conversation about the Gospel, it is an error to think that all outreach must be done alone. This may explain why some people have been hesitant, at best, when opportunities come. I do affirm that every believer ought to be trained to share the Gospel and make an intelligible defense for the hope we possess. But maybe there is a better starting point than simply tossing a lone sheep into the wolf den.
I find it interesting that Jesus sent out the disciples 2 by 2 in their first outreach expedition. (Note: Luke 10 gives us the details of this assignment and also adds that 58 more disciples were included in this mission.) Why pair the disciples, when theoretically twice the work could be done if the disciples go “solo?” The truth is we were created by God to need one another. The Body has many interconnected and interdependent parts. The best ministry experiences are shared.
This is an important point for church leadership to understand. While a leader may have the ability to accomplish an outreach task single-handedly, that does not mean he or she should. I once met a church leader who was very effective in equipping others for ministry. He advised me, “Never do ministry alone.” There are tasks that I could accomplish faster and more efficiently by myself. But have I made the most of this opportunity to bring glory to God and edify the Body of Christ? Lone “reachers” can make a difference in the lives of some people. Leaders who mentor add exponential value to the Church by training an entire generation to reach the world for Christ. Those mentored will then teach others how to do the same.
Shepherding Well 